Think about your options for food and drink when you’re at a local fair. Healthy choices don’t usually come to mind, do they? The drinks are typically pure sugar, and the food is probably deep-fried. That’s exactly what Chelsee Swen noticed when she took her children to fairs and festivals—the options were limited.
“They could have nothing. Nothing. We should be able to find drinks that don’t have dyes and aren’t full of sugar,” Chelsee recalled.
So, Chelsee set out with a simple goal: to open a business offering healthy options.
“We’ve had girls jumping up and down because there’s really no sugar,” Chelsee said.
“You can have drinks with no caffeine, no sugar, and no dairy, you know—and that never happens. That’s why I’m doing it.”
Chelsee took a proactive approach to bringing holistic alternatives to the public.
The mobile café started with “refreshers”—a freeze-dried fruit base mixed with stevia and water. Naturally, some customers had questions.
We are often hard-wired to consume whatever is offered without question—until we encounter something unfamiliar.
“My most popular comment when someone orders the blue-raspberry refresher and it doesn’t come out electric blue is: ‘I think I got the wrong one.’
No, that’s what real blueberries and raspberries look like! It’s programmed in your brain that blue-raspberry is electric blue. Actually, that’s not right.”
Chelsee noticed how conditioned we are to consuming artificial dyes without a second thought. According to a Jan. article from Henry Ford Health, dyes can be dangerous and have been linked to numerous health problems, including hyperactivity, irritability, allergies, inflammation, and even cancer. Honestly, the list goes on.
Having quality products available is a staple at Chelsee’s. The espresso is organic and roasted in the Midwest.
Some customers prefer their coffee to be very sweet, and Chelsee has no problem accommodating their preferences—you just have to let the staff know how you like your beverage!
When Chelsee’s Mobile Cafe opened in 2023, it operated out of local farmers' markets. But when the season ended, Chelsee wasn’t finished.
“We needed something that was ours—something we could park on and still travel.”
It was important to Chelsee to find a more permanent location with set hours, while still having the flexibility to travel.
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